You don’t believe now is the time to do the things that make you happy, including becoming the person you want to be. So, you keep waiting for a great reason to start enjoying your life.
As a result, you don’t wear the clothes or jewelry. You don’t take up the hobby, start your passion project, or take the trip. You don’t write (or read) the book, go to the concert, or buy season tickets to the local theater. And you don’t pursue your goals, follow your calling, join the dating app, or have the child.
You just keep waiting for a great reason to do these things.
Life is Not Like Fine China
Somewhere along the way, you—and I—began treating life like fine china kept behind glass. We save beautiful things for a future celebration that never quite arrives. We preserve our dreams, talents, and joy as though using them today might somehow diminish them. We even put our authentic selves in the china cabinet.
But life isn’t meant to be stored away or saved for the right occasion.
It’s meant to be lived and lived with joy.
Even fine china is meant to be used—and not only on special occasions. The same is true of most things.
I have clothes I purchased for special occasions. By the time I decided to wear them, the elastic had deteriorated, they were out of style, or I was too heavy to fit into them.
What’s the point of saving anything for the right moment…and not enjoying it now? There isn’t one.
The point is to enjoy what you have while you have it, which means now.
I could say the same thing about unread books in my library, unworn “good” jewelry, weekend getaways never taken, and stray dogs never adopted.
And then
there are the even simpler things, like taking time to meditate, visit a friend, or call my sisters.
There is no better time to do the things, wear the stuff, or pursue the dreams than right now. Your life—and mine—is not to be stored behind glass doors never to be used, touched, or enjoyed.
Open the china cabinet and start enjoying life!
You are Reason Enough
Let’s talk about that great reason you are waiting for before you give yourself permission to start living…
What if that reason is you?
It is.
You are the reason to wear the clothes, reach out on the dating app, take the trip, start the passion project, and do all the other things you keep putting off.
Also, you don’t need to have achieved something to enjoy life. There’s no requirement first to:
- lose twenty pounds.
- publish the book.
- retire.
- get noticed.
- earn X amount of money per year.
- achieve the goal.
In fact, you do not have to earn the right to enjoy life.
And if you are waiting for someone to give you permission to start living joyfully and fully, look in the mirror. Then, wave your hands around like you have a magic wand and say to your reflection, “I now grant you permission to start enjoying life!”
Stop Saving Enjoyment for Someday
Perfect circumstances rarely, if ever, arrive. You can wait for a perfect someday to start enjoying your life, but you could wait a lifetime.
Life isn’t a straight path to some magical place where you have all the great reasons to live joyously. Ins
tead, it’s a winding trail with unexpected turns, steep climbs, and detours. And it’s your job to learn to enjoy the journey.
You have to choose to enjoy life no matter what is happening in your life or the world.
And yes, you can choose joy. You can decide to be a joyful person. There truly is no other way if you want to start enjoying life now…not later.
Stop saving enjoyment for someday. Someday may never come. In fact, someday is today.
So, wear your favorite clothes because they make you feel alive.
Buy yourself flowers because beauty nourishes your soul.
Spend an afternoon reading beneath a tree because your brain needs feeding and your spirit deserves rest.
Do all the things!
- Take yourself to lunch.
- Watch the sunset.
- Celebrate ordinary days any day of the week.
- Drive with the windows down.
- Buy yourself a gift.
- Write in the journal.
- Wear the special outfit to the grocery store.
- Drink from the special mug.
- Play the guitar.
- Use the expensive lotion or soap.
- Start working on the book.
And do them now…not later. And do them with joy!
Waiting quietly steals today’s joy. And when you are done waiting, there may be no time left to enjoy life.
None of the things on the list above requires a special occasion. The occasion is you and your life.
You are alive to live that life another day. That’s reason enough to celebrate.
Don’t Postpone Your Joyful Life
Imagine that you have stopped postponing and started living a joyful life. See yourself finding great reasons every day to live in joy…no matter what.
Imagine how your life would change…how you would change.
It’s time to stop waiting for great reasons to start enjoying your life, is it not? Live joyfully for yourself, because every day is an opportunity to celebrate being alive.
Why are you waiting to enjoy life? Tell me in a comment below. Please share this post with those who may benefit from reading it.
If you are ready to stop waiting for a good reason to enjoy your life but aren’t sure how to do that, a transformational coach or a Certified High Performance Coach like myself can show you how. Schedule a free introductory session with me today to start a coaching program that helps you live fully and joyfully.
Image courtesy of oneinchpunch.
